I am 14 years old and I am from Nashua, NH. I am a rising sophomore at Nashua North. I enjoy science, math, and robotics and was a part of my school's math team, Science Olympiad team, and science bowl team, and FIRST robotics team this school year. Aside from academics, I was a pitcher and outfielder for my school's varsity baseball team this past school year. I hope to pursue a medical degree and taking this course is one step towards achieving my goals.
Using D.radiodurans to Decompose High-Level Nuclear Waste
Purpose
Waste from nuclear reactors are dangerous and could pose a threat to all of humankind. The nuclear industry produces about 2,000-2,300 metric tons of used fuel annually. Over the past 4 decades, about 73,460 metric tons have been produced, enough to cover a football field 8 yards deep in used fuel rods if they were stacked together. Cleaning up all this nuclear waste and storing it safely is a major problem. The nuclear waste could be harnessed by terrorists to make nuclear weapons. If the radioactive waste reached groundwater, it could pollute it. The waste isn’t a short term problem, it can continue to release potentially deadly amounts of radiation for hundreds of millions, even billions of years. My design will decompose radioactive materials if there is a presence of radioactive particles being released and inform scientists or waste disposal members of the presence of these radioactive substances. It will do this by releasing a specific, rancid smell (a certain thiol) as well as a red light. In turn, the smell and the release of the red light will inform the workers of the location of the source of the radioactivity. The product of the decomposition will be safer, less radioactive, non-soluble particles.
Competing Technologies
The nuclear industry is, in a sense, at a lack of ways to effectively take care of nuclear waste. The current disposal solution are geological disposition, in which they seal the high-level nuclear waste and place it in large drums underground. The other use of nuclear waste is the reprocessing and reuse of the waste, although it is requires large amounts of energy and still leaves a significant amount of waste. Although storing the waste underground is working right now, it is not a long term solution, and as the nuclear waste accumulates, it will pose a problem. It also requires the addition of more nuclear materials to make it useful again.
The Design
The base for the device would be the bacteria Deinococcus Radiodurans, which has the ability to withstand levels of radiation hundreds of time higher than humans can. In the presence of a radioactive substance, which would be the input, these radioactive particles (the activator) will bind to the activator binding site. This will allow the RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter. This will turn the gene on, producing three proteins. One is Protein X which will allow the bacteria to decompose the radioactive metals into a less potent, non-soluble form. This gene will come from Geobacter sulfurreducens. The IRC7 gene will lead to the production of a β-lyase protein that will trigger thiol production, releasing a foul odor. You can specifically program the gene to release a certain thiol. The last gene will lead to the production of mCherry, a red fluorescent protein.
Expected Results
Radioactive Particles
mCherry
β-lyase
Protein X
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
If there is a presence of radioactive particles, mCherry, β-lyase, and Protein X will be produced. In the absence of radioactive particles, mCherry, β-lyase, and Protein X wouldn’t be produced. In the presence of radioactive particles, the bacteria will decompose the radioactive metals. The product of this decomposition will be less harmful and easier to store, as it takes less space and poses less of a risk to both humans and the environment. You will know where the decomposition is occurring and if it is occurring by the presence of thiol smells as well as a red light that would emanate from the bacteria.
Advantages
This is a solution that turns radioactive materials into a non-soluble form, making it less likely to react with certain aspects of the environment. Reprocessing the used fuel will still result waste that would still be very radioactive and very hazardous. This design is a way to reduce the hazard radioactive materials pose through the decomposition of the metal making it easier and safer to store in contrast to high level nuclear waste.
Potential Problems
Some potential problems that must be taken in for account are things such as what could happen if the bacteria reproduce uncontrollably. D. radiodurans is an extremophile which can survive even in very harsh environments. Safety precautions such as radiation suits, gloves, and goggles are an obvious must during the production of this bacteria to avoid infection, and radiation poisoning. The production and testing would be conducted in a controlled, lab environment, which would be isolated to help prevent the possible release of bacteria and radiation. The evolution of the bacteria could negatively affect the bacterial device rendering inert or even causing it to pose a threat. Additionally, compared to existing technologies, the initial cost of producing the specific bacteria through gene manipulation and synthetic biology could be quite high. However, once the specific bacteria is produced, the reproduction of the bacteria could make it sustainable. The bacteria could pose a threat if it for some reason, it didn’t decompose the radiation as it should. If the people releasing the bacteria entered a radioactive area thinking the bacteria did it’s job when it hadn’t, they could be in danger. However, simply providing the workers Geiger counter to test the radiation levels in an area can inform them whether or not it is safe to enter. The rewards of making high-level nuclear waste less potent and less hazardous to us greatly outweighs the very slim chances that the bacteria somehow becomes a threat, especially with the fact that proper testing and procedure can ensure this from happening.
Testing
Testing to ensure that the bacteria works properly would be conducted in a controlled lab where the bacteria would be placed with small samples of low radioactivity metals to test how the bacteria reacts to the metals. Testing could expose a possible flaw that can be corrected to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the bacteria. Testing and researching the potential of other genes and bacteria could also reveal genes that make the device more effective at decomposing metals as well as allowing for the discovery of other effective uses of the bacterial device.
Purpose Waste from nuclear reactors are dangerous and could pose a threat to all of humankind. The nuclear industry produces about 2,000-2,300 metric tons of used fuel annually. Over the past 4 decades, about 73,460 metric tons have been produced, enough to cover a football field 8 yards deep in used fuel rods if they were stacked together. Cleaning up all this nuclear waste and storing it safely is a major problem. The nuclear waste could be harnessed by terrorists to make nuclear weapons. If the radioactive waste reached groundwater, it could pollute it. The waste isn’t a short term problem, it can continue to release potentially deadly amounts of radiation for hundreds of millions, even billions of years. My design will decompose radioactive materials if there is a presence of radioactive particles being released and inform scientists or waste disposal members of the presence of these radioactive substances. It will do this by releasing a specific, rancid smell (a certain thiol) as well as a red light. In turn, the smell and the release of the red light will inform the workers of the location of the source of the radioactivity. The product of the decomposition will be safer, less radioactive, non-soluble particles.
Using D. radiodurans to Decompose High-Level Nuclear Waste
Purpose
Waste from nuclear reactors are dangerous and could pose a threat to all of humankind. The nuclear industry produces about 2,000-2,300 metric tons of used fuel annually. Over the past 4 decades, about 73,460 metric tons have been produced, enough to cover a football field 8 yards deep in used fuel rods if they were stacked together. Cleaning up all this nuclear waste and storing it safely is a major problem. The nuclear waste could be harnessed by terrorists to make nuclear weapons. If the radioactive waste reached groundwater, it could pollute it. The waste isn’t a short term problem, it can continue to release potentially deadly amounts of radiation for hundreds of millions, even billions of years. My design will decompose radioactive materials if there is a presence of radioactive particles being released and inform scientists or waste disposal members of the presence of these radioactive substances. It will do this by releasing a specific, rancid smell (a certain thiol) as well as a red light. In turn, the smell and the release of the red light will inform the workers of the location of the source of the radioactivity. The product of the decomposition will be safer, less radioactive, non-soluble particles.
Competing Technologies
The nuclear industry is, in a sense, at a lack of ways to effectively take care of nuclear waste. The current disposal solution are geological disposition, in which they seal the high-level nuclear waste and place it in large drums underground. The other use of nuclear waste is the reprocessing and reuse of the waste, although it is requires large amounts of energy and still leaves a significant amount of waste. Although storing the waste underground is working right now, it is not a long term solution, and as the nuclear waste accumulates, it will pose a problem. It also requires the addition of more nuclear materials to make it useful again.The Design
The base for the device would be the bacteria Deinococcus Radiodurans, which has the ability to withstand levels of radiation hundreds of time higher than humans can. In the presence of a radioactive substance, which would be the input, these radioactive particles (the activator) will bind to the activator binding site. This will allow the RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter. This will turn the gene on, producing three proteins. One is Protein X which will allow the bacteria to decompose the radioactive metals into a less potent, non-soluble form. This gene will come from Geobacter sulfurreducens. The IRC7 gene will lead to the production of a β-lyase protein that will trigger thiol production, releasing a foul odor. You can specifically program the gene to release a certain thiol. The last gene will lead to the production of mCherry, a red fluorescent protein.Expected Results
If there is a presence of radioactive particles, mCherry, β-lyase, and Protein X will be produced. In the absence of radioactive particles, mCherry, β-lyase, and Protein X wouldn’t be produced.
In the presence of radioactive particles, the bacteria will decompose the radioactive metals. The product of this decomposition will be less harmful and easier to store, as it takes less space and poses less of a risk to both humans and the environment. You will know where the decomposition is occurring and if it is occurring by the presence of thiol smells as well as a red light that would emanate from the bacteria.
Advantages
This is a solution that turns radioactive materials into a non-soluble form, making it less likely to react with certain aspects of the environment. Reprocessing the used fuel will still result waste that would still be very radioactive and very hazardous. This design is a way to reduce the hazard radioactive materials pose through the decomposition of the metal making it easier and safer to store in contrast to high level nuclear waste.Potential Problems
Some potential problems that must be taken in for account are things such as what could happen if the bacteria reproduce uncontrollably. D. radiodurans is an extremophile which can survive even in very harsh environments. Safety precautions such as radiation suits, gloves, and goggles are an obvious must during the production of this bacteria to avoid infection, and radiation poisoning. The production and testing would be conducted in a controlled, lab environment, which would be isolated to help prevent the possible release of bacteria and radiation. The evolution of the bacteria could negatively affect the bacterial device rendering inert or even causing it to pose a threat. Additionally, compared to existing technologies, the initial cost of producing the specific bacteria through gene manipulation and synthetic biology could be quite high. However, once the specific bacteria is produced, the reproduction of the bacteria could make it sustainable. The bacteria could pose a threat if it for some reason, it didn’t decompose the radiation as it should. If the people releasing the bacteria entered a radioactive area thinking the bacteria did it’s job when it hadn’t, they could be in danger. However, simply providing the workers Geiger counter to test the radiation levels in an area can inform them whether or not it is safe to enter. The rewards of making high-level nuclear waste less potent and less hazardous to us greatly outweighs the very slim chances that the bacteria somehow becomes a threat, especially with the fact that proper testing and procedure can ensure this from happening.Testing
Testing to ensure that the bacteria works properly would be conducted in a controlled lab where the bacteria would be placed with small samples of low radioactivity metals to test how the bacteria reacts to the metals. Testing could expose a possible flaw that can be corrected to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the bacteria. Testing and researching the potential of other genes and bacteria could also reveal genes that make the device more effective at decomposing metals as well as allowing for the discovery of other effective uses of the bacterial device.Research Project Presentation
Resources:
__http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TT-pM3crmI/UAZTFcjqdhI/AAAAAAAAGyg/E9mI_DUWRP0/s640/nuclear-waste.jpg__ (Nuclear Waste Image)__http://users.humboldt.edu/wfwood/chemofskunkspray.html__ (Thiol Smell)
__http://clontech.com/US/Products/Fluorescent_Proteins_and_Reporters/Fluorescent_Proteins/Fusions/Red__ (Red Fluorescent Protein)
__https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCherry__ (Red Fluorescent Protein)
__http://webpal.org/SAFE/aaarecovery/3_radiation_in_food/microbes/microbes_intro.htm__ (D. Radiodurans)
__http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/04/super-cells-that-can-eat-radiation-generate-electricity-and-cure-cancer.html__ (Geobacter sulfurreducens)
__http://energy.gov/articles/geobacter-junk-food-connoisseurs-bacterial-kingdom__ (Geobacter sulfurreducens)
__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002011000141__ (IRC7 Thiol gene)
__https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans__ (D. radiodurans)
__http://www.microbeworld.org/interesting-facts/how-do-they-do-that/162-survive-radiation__ (D. radiodurans)
__http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v18/n1/full/nbt0100_85.html__ (D. radiodurans)
__http://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/fuel-recycling/processing-of-used-nuclear-fuel.aspx__ (Nuclear Waste)
__http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-management.aspx__ (Nuclear Waste)
__http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realities.aspx__ (Nuclear Waste)
__http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/On-Site-Storage-of-Nuclear-Waste__ (Nuclear Waste)
__http://northernhoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/radioactive-waste-storage.jpg__ (Nuclear Waste Photo)
__http://d3ct8f39dj9jhs.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/yuccamtn_waste.jpeg__ (Nuclear Waste Diagram)
__http://enformable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NUMO-Radioactive-Waste-Disposal-Method.jpg__ (Nuclear Waste Disposal)
__http://www.ediblegeography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Deinococcus_radiodurans-460.jpg__ (D. radiodurans image)
Purpose
Waste from nuclear reactors are dangerous and could pose a threat to all of humankind. The nuclear industry produces about 2,000-2,300 metric tons of used fuel annually. Over the past 4 decades, about 73,460 metric tons have been produced, enough to cover a football field 8 yards deep in used fuel rods if they were stacked together. Cleaning up all this nuclear waste and storing it safely is a major problem. The nuclear waste could be harnessed by terrorists to make nuclear weapons. If the radioactive waste reached groundwater, it could pollute it. The waste isn’t a short term problem, it can continue to release potentially deadly amounts of radiation for hundreds of millions, even billions of years. My design will decompose radioactive materials if there is a presence of radioactive particles being released and inform scientists or waste disposal members of the presence of these radioactive substances. It will do this by releasing a specific, rancid smell (a certain thiol) as well as a red light. In turn, the smell and the release of the red light will inform the workers of the location of the source of the radioactivity. The product of the decomposition will be safer, less radioactive, non-soluble particles.